R22 vs Brisbane | Sun 22 Mar | 7:00pm | SS5

That Bench is starting to look REALLY powerful.

Wash my mouth out.. 

Its good Fenton and Boxall are starting..

Will Ernie drop Lia in favour of Rodriguez? He has shown faith in a player who has played well in the previous week.

I probably would play Rodriguez, but it is a nice conundrum to face.

Ernie dropped Boxall when Muscat was available again, despite some huge performances from the Box.I'd say Lia will definitely make way for A-Rod, especially as we are playing Brisbane. A-Rod's passing accuracy and workrate are the best in our midfield and they be vital to winning the midfield battle with the Roar.

Is Cunningham still out injuried? When is he due back?

Lia will make way, I assume - especially considering it was a pretty tough game in Perth and Brisbane are a more footballing side, rather than a bunch of hacks.

The power of Doyle, Hicks and Lia? (though I am starting to rate Hicks as a bench option; reminds me of a D-Grade Rosicky)

I actually rate boxall and hope he start's every week

Not sure if Appiah's still injured  - he played a half for the Weenix last week?

Need him fit for the Sydney game! If he and JBS are still out, we'd be down to Lia and Riera as our fullbacks? (with Fenton, Doyle & Box all away with AWs)

I'm always surprised of the various uses of calc sheets.

Cold shoulder?

Is Burns ok, was injured last week I recall

Edit

Yes he is

If that were to happen, some of the WeeNix could be in line for game time.

Sounds like Manny did his AC joint; he could probably play on, but it'd hurt like a bitch.

Ernie suggests it could be Doyle in for Manny & says Ridenton is fit

http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/video-phoenix-without-muscat-for-roar-clash-2015031814

I bet he is trying to psych the Roar out with our squad depth

So after their ACL game last night and Sydney last week, the Roar have leaked 8 goals in 2 games. If our defence can keep them out then I can hope that we break another hoodo this weekend in Brisbane.

Needs more Pivot Table

Would be interested to see the stats on how many times our full-backs have changed. I feel like we haven't had the same combination for 3 consecutive games? Makes our defensive record all that more impressive.

Changed 9 times. 3 times we've had the same fullbacks for 3+ games. 

It's the game against Sydney on the 29th that Burns will miss due to the Socceroos staying in camp in Europe after the Germany game and playing Macedonia on the 31st NZT.

Will the Nix's All Whites miss that Sydney game too due to the fixture against Korea on the 31st?

Seems the Nix will be without six players for the Sydney game on the 29th due to All Whites and Socceroos selection:

Burns, McGlinchey, Fenton, Boxall, Doyle, Boyd

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/injury-rules-out-barba...

"The New Zealand-based All Whites depart for Korea on Monday."

Will leave defensive options limited vs. Sydney considering both Fenton and Doyle played  last weekend vs. Perth and Muscat is under an injury cloud with his shoulder and won't play this weekend, requiring Boxall to step in to the starting eleven.

I actually kind of look forward to games where we have a bunch of players out - remember going to the game against Heart in Melbourne where we played surprisingly well and got a draw.

Might've been Boxall's first game for us?

Gives the younger guys a chance to show their mettle.  And if get smashed, there is at least the solace in knowing we had a "B" team on the park. Have the club not asked for a postponement / deferrment of the game against Sidnee?

When you look at that there, you have McGlinchey (Hicks), Burns (Griffiths) Fenton (Manny) and Lia will fill the holes. Its not exactly a B team but it will be makeshift.

Boxall is with the AWs too.

Lets pray to the fitness gods; if we get injuries, could be problems.

Too bad

A serious club plans for both illness, injury an international duty

And whoever is in our way, regardless of squad depth , we will f*** them over

2015 is our year

Exactly! Regardless of Cockerill, Harper, Veitch and all and sundry.

All this friggen upset for a waste of time friendly. The club should have declined the player releases. What is more important? Winning the league or a friendly where were likely to get a pasting anyway?

Double post.

We're doomed!

!

FTT!

Embrace the Spoon!

We're gonna get smashed, face it!

http://www.a-league.com.au/matchcentre/Brisbane-Roar-v-Wellington-Phoenix/753901#widget-match-day-tabs

Wellington Phoenix 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 3.Joel GRIFFITHS, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 5.Michael BOXALL, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 9.Nathan BURNS, 10.Michael McGLINCHEY, 13.Albert RIERA, 14.Alex RUFER, 15.Jason HICKS, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21, Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c)

***one to be omitted***

Ins 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ (returns from injury), 9.Nathan BURNS (returns from injury), 14.Alex RUFER (promoted)

Outs 2.Manny MUSCAT (shoulder – 1 week), 29.Joel STEVENS (omitted)

Unavailable 6.Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH (shoulder – 4 weeks), 7.Kenny CUNNINGHAM (hamstring – 2 weeks), 11.Kwabena APPIAH (calf – 1 week), 12.Tyler BOYD (ankle – 2 weeks), 23.Matthew Ridenton (knee – 2 weeks)

Referee Alan Milliner

Assistant Referee 1 Nathan MacDonald

Assistant Referee 2 Anton Shchetinin

Fourth Official Alex King

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

If Roar’s last two matches are anything to go by, this will be a high-scoring thriller.

Frans Thijssen’s side went down 5-4 in a nine-goal epic against Sydney FC and followed it up with another cracker on Wednesday night in the ACL as they played out a 3-3 draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

There’s no doubt Roar’s defensive structure will have been worked on in the couple of days’ preparation for this clash.

Outside the top six by two points – albeit with two games in hand – this is a vital clash for Brisbane, especially as they will lose Matt McKay, Luke DeVere, James Donachie and Corey Brown to international duty for the next round.

Phoenix is now the hunted in the Hyundai A-League having surged to the top with last weekend’s 2-1 win over Perth Glory. How will Ernie Merrick’s side cope with that added pressure?

Fresh from his two goals against Suwon, youngster Devante Clut has been included in Roar’s extended squad, along with the returning Luke Brattan from suspension.

Thomas Broich was left out of the starting side against the Koreans but should be right to start this one.

There is a couple of big inclusions for the league-leaders as top scorer Nathan Burns and key midfielder Alex Rodriguez return from injury, although they do lose defender Manny Muscat, with Tom Doyle expected to start at left-back.

OPTA DATA STATS

-Brisbane Roar has won six of their last seven meetings with Phoenix (L1), scoring at least twice in each victory.

-Wellington has never won or kept a clean sheet in 12 previous visits to Brisbane (D2 L10) in the Hyundai A-League.

-These sides have one win apiece in meetings between them this Hyundai A-League season, with the winning side scoring three on both occasions.

-Roar have received fewer yellow cards than any other side this season (32), while Wellington are one of three sides yet to receive a red card (along with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United).

ROUTE TO GOAL

Goals don’t seem to be a problem for either of these sides of late. Roar found the net four times against Sydney FC last weekend, but still found themselves on the wrong end of the result.

There’s no doubt much of this week would have been spent trying to fix those defences lapses for Brisbane boss Frans Thijssen.

They will need to with the likes of Krishna, Burns, Griffiths, McGlinchey and Bonevacia coming to town. Youngster Brandon Borrello has been in good goal-scoring form of late and he will be a key for the home side’s chances of victory.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Roy Krishna. The flying Fijian is enjoying a dream season, playing a huge role in Wellington’s shock rise to the top of the Hyundai A-League table.

He faces a stiff challenge in this clash against Brisbane hard-tackling German right-back Jerome Polenz.

FORM LINES

Roar’s unbeaten run since the Asian Cup break came to an in as they were on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller against Sydney FC last Sunday. The result saw them drop out of the top six.

But they are still well-placed to get out of their group in the ACL for the first time ever after salvaging a late 3-3 draw with Suwon on Wednesday night.

Wellington surged to the top of the ladder with a massive 2-1 away win over previous leaders Perth Glory. Phoenix has won three matches in a row, all against sides up there with them in the top five.

Roar won 3-2 the last time these two met at Suncorp early last month.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brisbane Roar has scored just seven goals at home this Hyundai season, fewer than any other side, while no side has won more away games than Wellington Phoenix this season (6).

PREDICTION

Brisbane Roar FC 2-2 Wellington Phoenix

Given the way both sides play there should be a few goals in this one and it really could go either way.

I actually think we will get royally dicked. I probably won't even watch this one.

predicting this will be very pleasing

Fixed.... Wink, nudge.

It's a FIFA international window. Clubs must release their players even for friendlies.

I hope you're right JV-----looks a decent line-up.  3 more points would do us rather well.

Game day!!! Farken firing up after I've had a good sleep!